Thread-trapper and reverse-plating mechanism for knitting machines



July 5, 19321 H. H. HOLMES ETAL J THREAD TRAPPER AND REVERSE PLATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed July 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 5, 1932. H. H. HOLMES ET AL THREAD TRAPPER AND REVERSE PLATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING IACHINES Filed July 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 5,1932. H. H[ HOLMES ET AL 1,366,108

THREAD TRAPPER AND REVERSE PLATING MECHANISM FOR KNITTING ncnmss .Filed July 1, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 5, 1932 ITED AssIGNons ro WILDT Ann COMPANY HENRY HAROLD HOLMESAND: OBERT 'fiAROLD- ROBINSON, or EIcns'rnR; ENG AND;

'iHREAD-TRAPPER'AND REVERSE-JZLATING MECHANISM non Kmtr'rmo MACHINES Applicationfiled July 1, 1929, SeriaLNo. 375,049, and in Great Britain Aug st 30,1928, e

- This invention consists in improvements inor relating to thread-trappers for knitting machines; Although in the form tobe described hereinafter, the thread-trapper isde 5 signed for use with an improvement ofv the reverse-plating mechanism described in our copending application Ser. No. 375,048, filed of even date herewith, it is not necessarily limited thereto and may bekusefully employed in conjunction with any type of circular knitting machine producing, for example, horizontally-striped fabric.

In the improved formpof reverse-plating mechanism above referred to, there is com-' bined with the relatively movable yarn-feed! ing guides, with or without the fixed guide as described in the prior specification, a movable yarn-presser or deflector, and means to move it to hold a newly-introduced yarn or yarns in position on the yarn-feeding guides while a replaced yarn or yarns is-or are withdrawn. Areplaced yarn is one that has been used injthe-knittingoperation and is withdrawn in favour OfEL newly-introduced vyarn-to alter the patterning efi'eot; 1

A yarn-trapper according toftheginvention comprises relatively movable j aw-plates with an intermediate plate or plates between them, which'latter is or are free to move away from the jaw-plates (and from one another ,if more than one intermediate -plate is provided), when the jaw-plates areopened apart. Conveniently, each such intermediate plate is guided byone or more rods or likemernbers which serve to guide the movements of the jaw-plate or plates.

:The trapper maybe, preferably is,

I combined with a movable yarnfinger which is operatively co'nnectedwith a movable jawplate soasto move endwise in company therewith,a nd means is also provided to move the yarn-finger in a transverse. direction toguide the yarn between the jaw plates. In one example, the movable yarn-finger is associated with deflecting means -whereby endwise movement of thefinger automatically, efi'ect's its transverse movement as, for example, by

means of a guide-slot in the finger, engaging a fixedpin. Y g 1 p In some forms of knitting machine, to

trap

.tive positions, of the in Figure 6, and

all the figures of the drawings,

whichthe present inventionisapplicable, the V oonrnny LIMIT noF LEICESTER, ENGLAND, A n rse trapper and theyarn-feeders are necessarily so disposed relatively to the] needles that a introduced yarnor yarns so that they can be taken bythe needles. I I The yarn presserr may be -disposed between v the feeder and" the I p In order thatthe present inventionmay'be more cilearlyunderstdod, a preferred embodiment will now be described with the aid the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figurelis an under plan view ofa thread} trapper and severing device according tofth e inventionj i "1 'i Figure 2 is ajside elevation of the trapper shownin Figure 1 YlGWQdEEI'OHlpfibQVe in that figure; 1

Figured is aside amen gnawing phirality of yarn-feeders and a yarn presserbi sdefieotor associatedwith themi p F1gure 5 's a fiew ofthepar'ts shown in Figure 4 looking; fronfr'the left-hand thereof;

' Figure 6 is a schematic view showing one downyonlthe latchsring to illustrate the-rela- I several parts illustrated Figure 8 's ajschematic view showingfthie yarn-trapper applied to a lmittingfmacliine employing both diah and cylinder-needles. Like reference numerals indicate like parts The trapping device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 comprises vise-like jaws ll and-12 6f whichthe jaw 12 is fixed on the.,latch-ring post by meansofabracket 1 4, as-shown V in Figure 7. Guide-pins 15, secured to the fixed jaw', extend through holes in the movable jaw 11 to guide the latter and also to guide one-or more intermediate plates/16. A spring 17 on one of the guide-rods (or on each of" them, if preferred) tends always to maintain the jaws closed together. The

movable jaw is actuated by means of an end wise-movable plunger 18 which carries afinger 19. The end of the latter, when the plunger is moved to the left in Figures 1 to 3, will engage with the adjacent 'faoe of the movable aw and open it against the compression-sprmg 17. v

A pin 20, extending laterally i from the plunger 18, has 'pivotally mounted on' it a yarn-finger 21 which will move in. company withthe movable plunger 18 and consequent ly'als'o with'jaw 1-1. The yarn finger has a downwardly-extended lip 22- which; as it is movedforwardly, will engage beneath the yarn or. yarns to be trapped. The finger 21 also has in it acam'in theform of a guideslot 23 which engages a relatively'fixed pin '24 so that after the .finger '21 has been moved forwardly beneath 'the yarns tobe trapped,

. its lip-will be raised upwardly to lift the yarn oryarns in between the j aw-plates and atth'e'time to prevent'those yarns which are stillto be retained in the trappergand the newly-introduced yarns from falling out I from between the plates before the latter are closed. The intermediate plate or plates 16 are for the purpose of better separation'of'the yarns. Thelatter will pass, by chance, be-

2 "maybe slida'ble in relation to the fixed knife- 7 Simultaneously, 7 that isto be released will carry its'yarn away blade. Endwise movement imparted to another slider 28, parallel with the slider. 18, of whic'hthe'forward .end 29' engages and moves with the cutting blade 26, serves to operate the cutter. I r 1 1 The sliders 18' v and 28 are operated in" sequence b means of an adjustable abutment indicate at"30" (Figure between which and the sliders 7 there is relativerotation, --a*bout the axis of the needle-cylinder. i

r I The abutment 30 is adjustedfrom the inoperative position illustrated into a position which it will engage the sliders atappropriate times. Thesequence of operation will "be as follows V When. it is desired to replace :ayarn: or

yarns by another yarnor yarns for a change of pattern, a new yarn will be introduced ferred to later.

.by the actuation of ayarn-feeder, to be rethe feeder for each yarn finto .thespace .between the openedgjaws; "During'the opening of the latter, the yarnfinger 21 moves beneath the yarn or yarns thatare-about to enter the jaws so asv to lift each such yarn in between the trapper-jaws or intermediate plates. Meanwhile, a newly introduced yarn will have been withdrawn from'the j aws. -The opening and closing of the latter is a quick operation,and immediately following the actuationof the slider 18 "(there being just suflicient time interval to allow the 'yarnsfi'to settle in place), the shear-knife '26 is actuated by engagement of the abutment with the slider 28. Each newly-introduced yarn is thereby severed.

*Inone embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the yarns are shown as supplied to the needles by means of interchangeable ya-rn feede'rs 32'. Each such feed er 'is pivot-red to turn about a pin 35 and may supply a single yarn, or it may supply more than twoyarns, but in itself it constitutes no part of the present invention and constitutes part of the subject-matter of our copending application'Ser. No; 37 5,048, above referred to.

Associatedwith the yarn-feeders 32 is a yarn-presser or -defiect0r 33 in the form of an open or bow-like frame 'pivotally mounted at 32ta-t'aposijtion between the trapper device and the yarn-fe'eders 32. This is clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7. As will be understood from theco pending application above referred to, in the device illustrated in detail in F igurese and '5 all the yarn feeders are shown'in their raised non-feeding positions. The yarnresser 33 is actuated to move about its pivot-34 after the yarn-feeder of a 'yarnto be" introduced has been swung downwa-rdl'yfi-nto the'feeding position; The design ofthe parts is, such that themovement of thepresser 3-3 follows up that of the yarnfeeder 32 so that the 'presse'r33 will come in behind the yarns to hold that one which has been'newly 'introduced'in a position in which it can be taken by the needles. It is int 'materi al to the present invention what form of mechanism is employed for actuating the yarn-presser 33,; and the need for this Presser only occurs 1IlCEIS6S' 1n which the movements of the y'arnrf eeders are suchas' to bring their yarns'intoia' position over the heads of the needles without bringing them into a position *such'that -'the needlescan take the newly- 'introdiicedyarn. In other words, in the example illustrated the lie of thenewly-introduced--yarn-Mll be in the required direction,butit is necessary to press the yarndown-g wardly to bring it to a height atw-hich the descending needlescanengage and take it into their hooks at r the knitting position.

In usual practice, the relationabetween-the trapper, feeder and'needlesis' such that the trapper intercepts the' yarn-path between the feeder and the needles when the feeder is being swung out of action. The feeders are so placed, relatively to the needles, that themere fact "of their being put back into position will bring the yarns into the feed position. In such a case, it' will be unnecessary to provide theyarn-presser 33, andthe latter will only be necessary in cases'in' which the yarns are not automatically, when ireintroduced by their feederspbrought:intothe feed position. 7 r v f:

In the example illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the feeders do not bring thekyarns directly to the needles but to a reverse plating mechanism comprising yarn engaging reversing fingers 36 and 37 as will; be'understoodbyreference to the co-pendingapplication previl ously mentioned, and consequently the yarn-1 presser 88 is required; and it may be equallyrequired for other con'structionsof machine in combination withthe trapper devicedescribed. An example, however, of conditions in which the yarn-presseris not required is given schematically in Figure ,8. :1 The machine illustrated here is intended to be a rib machine employing cylinder-needles such as 40 and dial-needles such/as 41.: .Theyarnfeeders are diagrammaticallyillustrated .at

. 42 and 43, whereof the feeder 42"is in thefeed Ill:

as it is withdrawn. 2. For a knlttmg machlne, a yarn-trapper position. The feeder 43- has been moviedto bring its'yarn in betweenthe trapper-jaws. The trapping device isillustratedas viewed end-on from the left of Figure 3 :with the device tilted so thatthe sloping; surface 31 is presented to theyarn thatii's't'o enterit, 1'

It will be understood, :of course, that the invention is notli nited to the particular form of yarn-presser illustratediherein, nor to the particular manner in which itis moved, as anypressing device, which will operate in the manner and for the'purpose above "described upon a yarn that has beenxbrought by its feeder into a position for supplying the arn to the needles, may: be employed.

eclaim; v m "fiiiif e 1.. For a knitting machine, a yarn-trapper comprising in combination relatively separable Jaw-plates, and at least one intermediate plate between them that is free to. separate from the jaw-plates when the latter are opened apart thereby affording a plurality of gaps into any one of which a yarn canpass comprising in combination separable awplates, a plurality of intermediate jaw-plates between them, each of which is free to separate from the jaw-plates and from one aninto one ofthe plates. i

I 7For a knitting machine, a yarn-trapper ble jaw-plates, at lea'stone intermediate plate I between them that is free to separate from the jaw-plates when the latter are opened apart gthereby affordinga plurality of gaps into any one of whicha yarncanpass as itis withdrawn' and 1 means toguide the move mentcf the intermediate plate. P anFor a knitting machine," a yarn-trapper comprising in combination relatively -separablejaw-plateaat least one intermediateplate between them that is free to separate from the'jaw-plateswhen the latter are opened apart thereby affording a plurality of gaps into, any one of which a yarn can pass as it is withdrawn, and a' guide to guide the movement of the intermediate plateand-also the relativemovement of the jaw-plates asthey are separated." f f" 5. Fora knitting machine, a yarntrapper so i comprising in'combination relatively separa ble jaw-plates, at least one intermediate plate I -between theinthatis free toseparatefrom the jaw-plates when the-later are opened apart thereby aifording a plurality of gaps intoany one of which a yarn can pass as itis withdrawn, and amovable yarn-fingerthat,

ble jaw-plates, at least one intermediate plate betw'eenthem that is free'to separate from comprising in combination relatively separa- I the jaw-plates when" the latter are opened apart thereby affording a" plurality of gaps into; anyone :of which yarncan pass as it is withdrawn, 'and-aumovable yarn-finger which, as'the jaw-plates are separated, is movable both transversely to the direction of separationjand'also'in the-direction of separation of the'jaw plates in orderto-guide the-yarn comprisingin combination two aw-plates,

-one of whichisrelatively fixeda'nd the other 'ismovable towards and away from the companion plate, at least oneintermediate. plate between them thatfis free toseparate from the jaw-plates when the-latter are opened apart thereby alfor dinga plurality of gaps into any one of which a yarn can pass as it is withdrawn, a movable yarn-finger, and means movable: jaw-plate in such a rnanneras to move thefi-nge'r Q IIdWISQ," 1n the direction of gaps between the opened 'j awi operativelylconnecting said fingerfwith the i I the yarn and guide it into {one of the betweenthe opened jawsplates. I V

. 8. For a knitting machine, a yarn-trapper comprising in combination two jaw-plates, one of which is relatively' fixed and the other is movable towards and away-from the come panion plate, at least one intermediate plate betweenthem that is free to separatefrom the jaw-plates when the latter are opened apart thereby affording .a plurality ofgaps into any one of which a yarn can pass as it is withdrawn, a yarn-finger movable endwise' in company with the movable-jaw-plate to advance with the latter as it is separated 'the jaw-plates when the latter are opened apart thereby affording a plurality ofgapsinto any one of which a yarncan pass as it is- 'movable jaw-plate whereby the finger is withdrawn, a movable yarn-finger, means operatively connecting the latter with vthe moved endwise in companywith the 'mova ble jaw-plate in the direction of separation of the jaw-plates, and deflecting means operable automatically on the yarn-finger during, its endwisemovement to' move it across thegap I between the jaw-plates transversely tothe direction ofseparationthereof.

10. For aknitting machine, a yarn-trapper comprising in combination two aw-plates', one of which is relatively fixed and the other is movable towards and'away from the companion plate, at least one intermediate plate between them that is free to separate from the jaw-plates when the latter are'opened' apart thereby'afiording a plurality of gaps into any one of which a yarn can pass as it is with drawn, amovable yarn-finger operatively connected with'the movable jaw-plate to move endwise with the latter, and a cam and coopcrating projection 'to ridejthereon, one of which elements is associated with the finger and the other" with the relatively fixed part,

- I In testimony ration, and is susequently moved into the gap transversely of the direction of separation,

12.For a knitting machine, the combination of a yarnrtrapper having relatively separable-jaw-platesand at lea'stone intermediate plate between them that is free to separate from the jaw-plates when the ,latter are opened apart thereby aflording a plurality of gaps into any one of which a yarn can pass as it is withdrawn,- a thread-cutter, and two end-wise-movable sliders arranged substantially parallel with one another-but spaced apartin the direction of the length of the needle-bed, one said slider being. operatively connected to, and serving as the operating member for, the, movable jaw-plate, and the vother slider operatively' connected with, and serving to actuate, the cutter. V

13. For a knitting machine, the'combination ofa yarn-trapper comprising relatively separable j'aw-plates and at least one intermediate piate between themthat is free to separate from the jaw-plates when the latter are openedapart,thereby affording a plurality'of gaps into any one of which a yarn-can pass as it is withdrawn, a thread-cutter, an

abutment between which andithe trapper" and cutter there is relative movement in the direction of the length of-the needle-bed, elements associated with the movable jaw-platevand the cutter to bexen'gaged with the abutment to be actuated thereby, and so arranged that thefabutment firstengages with the 'aw-openingLeZem'ent and afterwards with-t e cutteroperatingelement. I r

1 14; For a kii'ttingma'chine, a yarn-trapper comprising in combination relatively separable jaw-plates, at least one intermediate plate between'them that is free to separate from the jaw=plates when the latterare opened apart, thereby afiording a plurality of gaps in any one of whieh .'a yarn .can passas it is 'withdrawn,..meahs to separate thejaws at desired times, a thread-cutter, and a cutteractuating ember which is'operated independently of the jaw-separating means by movement in a. direction parallel withthe direction of separation of the j aw-plates.

whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

" .HENRY HAROLD HOLMES.

ROBERT HAROLD ROBINSON.

whereof the shape of the'cam is such as to permit the finger first to move endwise with the movable jaw-plate and then toi-be moved transversely to that direction across the gap between the jaw-plates for the purpose described.

11, Fora knitting machine, a yarn trapper comprising in combination two relatively separable jaw-plates, amovable' yarn-finger operatively connected with thejaw plates so that as they are separated the finger is prov. =w jje'cte'd acrossthegap in the'direction of sepa- 7 

